May 08, 2024

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EDITOR'S PICKS

• Tech 
  

  Will China's self-sufficient dream in HBM come true?

  With the US imposing strict trade restrictions on China's advanced semiconductors and chipmaking equipment, Beijing has been ramping up efforts to develop home-grown artificial intelligence chips to keep up with the global AI boom. Recently, the Chinese government and chipmakers have been working together to produce high-bandwidth memory chips, a crucial component in graphic processing units. With the backing of the government, the consortium led by Huawei aims to produce HBM2 by 2026. Indust

• Companies 
  

  Mirae Asset introduces high dividend yield ETF to China

  Mirae Asset Global Investments, a leading asset manager based in Korea, has introduced a high dividend yield exchange-traded fund to the mainland Chinese market through cross-border trading with Hong Kong, the firm announced Tuesday. The Global X Hang Seng High Dividend Yield ETF, operated by the asset manager’s ETF arm in Hong Kong, was set up for trading on China’s Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Monday. The ETF tracks shares with high dividend yields on t

• Tech 
  

  [KH Explains] Can tech firms' AI alliances take on Nvidia?

  Tech firms have joined forces both domestically and globally to take on US chip giant Nvidia in the AI chip sector, which has enjoyed a near monopoly in the burgeoning market. An increasing number of global Big Tech companies are building their own AI ecosystems amid expectations for continuous growth in the sector, according to experts on Tuesday. While Nvidia has teamed up with SK hynix and TSMC to further strengthen its technical leadership in high-bandwidth memory chips, other tech firms

• Companies 
  

  Posco Future M unveils report on sustainable supply chain

  To address increasing global concerns regarding ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility, domestic battery manufacturer Posco Future M released its third Responsible Minerals Activity Report on Tuesday. The publication is a part of the company’s efforts to forge a sustainable supply chain for materials used in battery production, specifically the cathode and anode segments. It marks the continuation of a commitment initiated in 2021 when Posco Future M first outlined its compre

• Markets 
  

  Dried seaweed prices skyrocket to highest-ever level

  The wholesale price of gim, or dried seaweed, in South Korea in April nearly doubled from last year, rising to its highest-ever level. A 100-sheet package of gim was traded at an average of 10,089 won ($7.4) in April, soaring by 80.1 percent compared to the same month in 2023, according to the state-run Korea Maritime Institute. It was the first time that the wholesale price of gim surpassed the 10,000-won mark, and the institute projects that the price will keep climbing to 10,875 won by Oct

• Tech 
  

  LG CNS hosts contest for math optimization talents

  LG CNS said Tuesday it will host a contest that targets talented individuals in the field of mathematical optimization for bundle deliveries. Co-organized with the Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers, Optimization Grand Challenge 2024 aims to nurture exceptional talents in mathematical optimization and foster broader social interest in the field. Mathematical optimization involves finding the most efficient solution by considering all possible scenarios under current resources and condit

• Markets 
  

  NPS commits record W1.5tr for alternative investments

  South Korea's National Pension Service will pour a record 1.5 trillion won ($1.1 billion) in alternative assets managed by external managers this year, the largest such allocation in the fund's history. The majority of the sum, 1 trillion won, will go to private equity funds, according to a recent announcement by the NPS, marking a 25 percent increase from the previous year. In 2023, the NPS allocated 800 billion won to private equity, with Macquarie Asset Management, IMM Private Equity and H

• Markets 
  

  Value-up program: Market disappointment does not mean a failure, just yet

  The Korean government's corporate value enhancement guidelines revealed last week may have disappointed investors, yet experts believe there is room for improvement. After a three-month wait following the initial announcement of the corporate value-up program in February, the Financial Services Commission on Thursday issued several pages of guidelines detailing how companies should create their value enhancement plans and associated regulations. Under the guidelines, companies first select ke

• Companies 
  

  Hanwha Life secures 40% stake in Indonesian lender

  Hanwha Life, a major insurer under the Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group, is set to expand its presence in Southeast Asia, having secured a stake in Indonesia's Nobu Bank, according to the insurer on Monday. Hanwha Life acquired a 40 percent stake in Nobu Bank through a deal signed with Indonesia’s Lippo Group, a major conglomerate with businesses spanning Southeast Asia. The deal signing event was held in Jakarta on Friday, with Hanwha Life Vice Chair and CEO Yeo Seung-joo, its Presiden

• Companies 
  

  [Herald Interview] Hanatour CEO talks reshaping travel landscape

  As the travel landscape undergoes profound transformations postpandemic, the golden era of traditional, large-scale travel agencies may be coming to an end. However, Hanatour, Korea's leading travel agency with more than three decades of experience, aims to defy the growing perception. Leveraging extensive tourism data both inbound and outbound, Hanatour CEO Song Mi-sun said the company is seeking ways to pioneer a new era of travel, defined by enhanced safety, efficiency and tailored traveler

• Tech 
  

  Samsung mocks Apple over iPhone alarm glitch

  Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics made a mockery of its rival Apple on social media last week, after some iPhone users came forward complaining that their alarms had failed to go off. In a post on Instagram, Samsung UK shared a dog meme alongside text that reads "Rest assured our alarms go off.” It also wrote, “Samsung users woke up on time today.” According to industry sources, some iPhone users recently complained on social media, including TikTok, of inconve

• Tech 
  

  Chip up cycle won’t stay long: SK chief

  The chairman of Korea's chip-to-battery conglomerate SK Group said the fate of semiconductor manufacturers will hinge on how smartly they can map out capital expenditure plans, as he believes the recent chip recovery would be short-lived. The earnings surprise that SK hynix, the group’s crown jewel and the world's second-largest memory chipmaker, logged in the first quarter raised hope that the industry has ended its down cycle after months of operating losses. SK Group Chairman Chey Ta

• Markets 
  

  Woori to re-enter brokerage business with acquisition of Korea Foss Securities

  Woori Financial Group said Friday that it will launch a new brokerage arm in the third quarter by acquiring digital brokerage firm Korea Foss Securities and merging it into its existing investment banking subsidiary. The tie-up plan between Woori Investment Bank and Korea Foss Securities marks the financial giant's return to the stock trading business after a decade. Woori Financial Group's long-term goal is to become one of the country's top 10 brokerage firms within the next decade, said De

• Tech 
  

  Naver will consider company benefits in deciding on selling Line shares: CEO

  While the Japanese government is pressuring Naver to shed ownership in Line, the dominating messaging app in Japan, the Korean internet giant said it will make a decision based on the benefit of the company's business, the chief executive officer said Friday. During an earnings call, Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon said the administrative guidance issued by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications last month, demanding Tokyo-based LY Corp., the operator of Line, to lower its dependency

• Companies 
  

  Hyundai Motor to inject extra W1.3tr in Motional

  Hyundai Motor Group will invest 1.29 trillion won ($946 million) in Motional, a US-based autonomous driving startup, to boost technological development and secure stable control of the startup, the Korean auto conglomerate said Friday. Hyundai Motor will spend 663 billion won in capital increase and another 620 billion won for acquiring Aptiv’s 11 percent share in Motional, bringing the auto giant’s total share to 66.8 percent. The auto giant’s three affiliates -- Hyundai Mo

• Markets 
  

  Samsung chief returns from Europe after meeting with Pope, business leaders

  Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to Seoul on Friday after his trip to Europe, where he made a surprise visit to Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis, and met with business counterparts for cooperation. During the 10-day trip, Lee traveled to Germany, France and Italy, and checked on the company's business operations there. “The spring has come,” he told reporters without further explanation, upon his arrival at the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center. He did no